THE HEALTHCARE TIMES

Our genomes are strange archives—nearly half of the human DNA isn't “ours” in the traditional sense but originates from ancient viruses. These remnants, known as Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) and other Transposable Elements (TEs), were once dismissed as “junk” DNA. But modern science is revealing them to be anything but irrelevant. Recent breakthroughs show that these viral relics are active players—regulating genes, influencing immunity, and even holding therapeutic potential in diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and beyond. --- 2. From Junk DNA to Regulatory Gold For decades, TEs and HERVs were labeled “junk,” yet a groundbreaking study published in Science Advances (July 2025) uncovered that nearly half of the human genome consists of TEs, many sourced from ancient viruses. A focused investigation on one family—MER11, particularly the youngest subgroup MER11_G4—revealed their transcription factor binding sites can actively switch on genes in stem and early neural c...

  Are you a student preparing for exams or a parent supporting your child's learning or someone looking to sharpen your brain? Then read this blog post.  We all know that staying focused, memorizing concepts and thinking need a lot of brain power. But did you know that what you eat directly affects how your brain functions? Wait, I forgot. No, I'm just kidding. Most people think of food as a fuel for the body, but your brain is one of the most energy demanding organs. And what you eat determines how it functions. So remember diet plays a key role in brain health. Thank god we are not charged for brain consuming energy else our dad would ask us to switch it off. Even if we think he would say that's a luxury d turn it off. Your brain contains cells called neurons. These neurons need the right nutrients to function properly. Just like a high performance car needs quality fuel. Your brain needs the right foods to boost memory, improve focus and prevent sluggishness. Feeding jun...